Wednesday 19 September 2012

Actual Birding!

I threatened it yesterday, and today it became a reality.  I carried out some actual proper survey work for the first time in MONTHS!  I've done a few doss-type surveys over the breeding season, mainly involving protected species surveys for the likes of Barn Owl, Little Ringed Plover, Marsh Harrier and Quail and surveys I wanted to do because they are fun, such as Nightjar surveys!  I've been sat in the office for the majority of the last three months writing ES Chapter after ES Chapter, with some technical work including the delights of some Collision Risk Modelling and Population Viability Modelling thrown in just to really blow the mind!!

Today I was out doing the donkey work, Vantage Point (VP) surveys.  It was like standing in a wind tunnel for most of the day, however there was a couple of decent sightings including several small flocks of Pink-footed Geese heading south, a pair of Peregrine Falcons (the female seen at length giving some great views), a Hobby that was busy chasing dragonflies, and a hint of autumn with a couple of small flocks of Golden Plover and several Snipe.  It was enjoyable to be back out on a site, rather than being sat writing about it!

My reward for being out for the day surveying is to spend the evening catching up with all the reporting time I've missed today! For starters there's the Legal Review comments to answer from the lawyers... best get back to it!

If you want something on the Marsh Harriers, check out the excellent Lower Derwent Valley blog which has some details on a Marsh Harrier that was recently released in the area after being taken into care..

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